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Lamberg, Juha-Antti (2005)Download file: 'Strategic Action and Path Dependence: Profiles and Archetypes of Competitive Behaviour in a Global Industry' (Word version)
Helsinki University of Technology Laboratory of Industrial Management. Report 2005/2.

Acknowledgements

This study of strategy evolution in the paper and pulp industry is a part of a larger project which initially started from Professor Juha Näsi’s idea to study the strategic development paths of the major Finnish companies. So, Juha deserves my warmest gratitude as without his dynamic attitude the project would never have been realized. However, I would assume that neither Juha nor anybody else could have estimated of how the project would emerge and widen to cover various issues in the industry evolution.

Together with Docent Jari Ojala we wrote the first cases to support Juha Näsi’s and Docent Pasi Sajasalo’s research. What happened, however, was the accumulation of research ideas and new methodological openings which are documented not only in this book but also in various publications that have been published and will be during next years. Accordingly, I will thank Jari for smooth co-operation and support along the project. At the same time I thank Pasi for great companion along the years. The first version of this book was finished in 2001. The reason for this belatedness in publishing is that we submitted an overlapping manuscript to Springer Publications in 2002 and have been waiting the decision since that. Now, when the book is accepted and will come out later this year it seems right to publish this book which includes the two cases that will be published in the Springer book but also other material and research results that are separate from the larger project. During these years, I have forced numerous collegues to read and comment the manuscript. Especially, Professors Kari Lilja, Henrikki Tikkanen, Tomi Laamanen and Docents Juha Laurila and Antti Ainamo deserve my warmest appreciation. Last but definitely not last Doctors Kalle Pajunen and Mika Skippari have been the ones to teach me most in the specific methodologies and theories regarding industry evolution in general and paper and pulp industry in particular. At the last stages of the project, Saku Mantere and Leena Mellavuo-Aarnio from the Helsinki University of Technology facilitated the publication process. At the University of Alabama, Professor Grant Savage and Doctor Patrick Kreiser supported the early data collection phase of the book and they deserve my special thanks. Finally, Professor Matthias Kipping commented the early versions of the manuscript at the Europaen Business History Association’s Conference in Oslo 2002 and greatly encouraged to move towards this specific outcome. The ‘metaproject’ to study industy evolution in the context of the paper and pulp industry has been generously supported by the Academy of Finland (LIIKE –project) and various TEKES –related projects (Woodwisdom, Metasignal, GloStra).